Perennial, tufted. Culms 35–60 cm tall, 4-noded. Basal leaves 2/3 to equaling length of culms; leaf sheaths longer than internodes, scabrid, lowermost with ciliate margins; leaf blades setaceous, convolute, 0.5–0.7 mm in diam., outer surface scabrid; ligule of basal leaves 1–1.5 mm, rounded, margin ciliate, of culm leaves up to 4 mm, acuminate. Panicle narrow, 10–15 cm, branches often enclosed by uppermost leaf sheath. Spikelets yellowish green; glumes subequal, lanceolate, 3.5–5 cm, apex acuminate into long fragile filiform tip; callus pungent, 2.5–4 mm; lemma 14–18 mm, hairs in longitudinal lines, marginal line terminating 1–2 mm below apex, dorsal lines separate to base, apex glabrous; awn deciduous, 16–26 cm, 2-geniculate, column smooth, glossy, 5–6 cm to first bend, 1–2 cm to second bend, bristle 12–18 cm, plumose, hairs 4–5 mm. Fl. and fr. May–Sep.
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